A schoolgirl will finally spend her birthday cancer-free after beating a devastating brain tumour, with her family saying she has been a ‘shining star’ throughout the whole journey.
Aurora Farren, eight, spent her last birthday in hospital, while undergoing treatment for the pituitary gland tumour, which was discovered on 1 March 2023.
As she turned eight, she was in the high dependency unit at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital undergoing her first round of chemotherapy.
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Along with four rounds of chemotherapy, each lasting five days, and four blood transfusions, Aurora had six weeks of proton beam therapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, starting on 25 June last year.
After the proton beam therapy, Aurora finally completed her cancer treatment in August 2023 and is now free of cancer – meaning she’ll be able to enjoy the day as she turns nine on 31 March.
Mum Jenna Farren, 34, said: “Words can’t express how much we love Aurora and how grateful we are to still have her with us.
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“Aurora has been nothing short of amazing through everything. She hasn’t complained or made a fuss. She has just powered through.
“Even on the hardest of days, I was in absolute awe of how she coped with everything life handed her in the past year.”
Doctors found the tumour while she was being closely monitored, after Aurora had been diagnosed with a rare condition known as diabetes insipidus.
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Her mum said she had been incredible throughout the whole treatment, continuing: “From being told she had cancer to spending her birthday in the high dependency unit, to losing her beautiful red hair and spending weeks upon weeks far away from home, Aurora has been a shining star.”
Now back at school in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, Aurora has been chosen to launch Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Scotland, and will sound the horn at the start line for the Aberdeen race on 30 June, joined by Jenna, dad David Farren, 41, and her sister Ada, six.
Jenna added: “Why do I race for life? I’ll be proud to cross the finish line at Race for Life for Aurora this year.”
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The first Race for Life events of the year start in Stirling and South Queensferry on Sunday 5 May, followed by events across Scotland.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman in Scotland, said: “We are grateful to Aurora and all their family for their support and know their story will make an impact on everyone who hears it.
“No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Sadly nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime.
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“Race for Life has the power not only to transform lives, but to save them. We’re proud that Race for Life has already helped double survival rates in the UK.
“We’d love for as many people as possible across Scotland to join us at Race for Life.”
Jess Hardiman